Industrial Engineer, Continuous Improvement
US Gestamp Washtenaw, US, US Gestamp
Industrial Engineer/CI
With presence in more than 20 countries, Gestamp is a leading international group specializing in the design, development, and manufacture of metal automotive components. Our commitment to innovation drives us to create safer, lighter vehicles while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact.
Job Summary
The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for developing and optimizing manufacturing methods, processes, and systems to improve productivity, quality, safety, and cost efficiency. This role focuses on maximizing the utilization of machines, tooling, equipment, and facility resources while supporting continuous improvement initiatives across the operation.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Ensure full compliance with OSHA, safety, PPE, ISO, and environmental requirements.
- Promote a safe work environment for employees, contractors, and visitors.
- Analyze production schedules, work orders, and workflows to identify inefficiencies using Lean, Kaizen, and Six Sigma principles.
- Lead and sustain 5S initiatives across the facility.
- Develop and implement strategies that eliminate waste, streamline processes, and improve cycle time and throughput.
- Perform root-cause analysis and drive corrective actions related to process variation and quality issues.
- Design and optimize control systems to support production planning, process stability, and operational efficiency.
- Collaborate with engineering and IT to implement systems such as IoT, VQM, Workflow Manager, and Power BI dashboards.
- Improve data collection, reporting, and visualization methods across production, quality, maintenance, and materials teams.
- Establish and maintain min/max levels for lineside stock and warehouse storage.
- Develop and implement efficient production floor layouts focused on throughput, FIFO, 5S, and material flow optimization.
- Support launch of new programs by designing layouts, workflows, and material handling strategies.
- Implement and support quality assurance measures to reduce defects and ensure product conformance.
- Work cross-functionally with engineering, production, maintenance, materials, and quality teams to drive improvements.
- Assist in preparing budgets, project timelines, and training plans.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Industrial or Manufacturing preferred).
- Knowledge of SPC, JIT, MRP, and industrial management practices.
- Must have experience with Kaizen Lean Manufacturing, maintaining 5S.
- Must have worked on the floor/boots on the ground engineer.
- Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience; 5–8 years preferred.
- Experience with OEM or Tier 1 automotive suppliers strongly preferred.
Job Summary
Provide manufacturing methods and systems for optimizing the utilization of machines, tooling, equipment, facilities, quality, and production.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Understand and comply with all OSHA, safety, and PPE requirements.
- Understand and comply with all ISO and environmental requirements.
- Health & Safety of self and collogues including outside contractors or support personnel.
- Analyzing Workflows: Assessing production schedules, work orders, and existing
workflows to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement using Kaizen & Lean Manufacturing principles.
- Implement and maintain company 5S.
- Process Improvement: Developing strategies to eliminate waste and streamline
operations, often using methodologies like Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma.
- Designing Control Systems: Creating systems to coordinate activities and
production planning, ensuring that processes run smoothly and efficiently.
- Quality Assurance: Implementing quality control measures to maintain high
standards and reduce defects in products or services.
- Collaboration: Working closely with management to create budgets, timelines, and project plans, as well as training staff on new processes and safety
regulations.
- Work with engineering and IT for implementation of IOT/VQM/ Workflow manager and power bi dashboards.
- Work with production, maintenance, engineering, materials, and quality to improve data collection and reporting methods
- Establish min/max quantities of lineside stock for new and existing programs.
- Evaluate and establish min/max quantities for warehouse storage.
- Design and implement production shop floor layouts which promote optimum throughput, FIFO, 5S, and storage optimization for existing and new product.
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in Industrial or Manufacturing
- Knowledge of SPC, JIT, MRP and Industrial Management
- Minimum of three years, with five to eight years preferable of broad engineering and operational experience with an OEM or Tier 1 automotive supplier
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Proficient in AutoCAD
- Excellent verbal and written skills
- Strong people skills with a willingness to empower the team.
- Effectively able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Clear understanding of Lean Principals & Tools
- Working knowledge of MS Office
Physical and Mental Requirements of the Position
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle, manipulate, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk, and hear.
- Employee must occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so other will understand.
- The ability to concentrate on a task over a period without being distracted.
- This job requires travel that, on rare occasions, can be for extended periods.
- May be required to work extended hours on occasion.
- Handle the stress of a fast-paced environment.
- Complex problem solving